Bed construction



July 21, 1942. R. A. FIRESTONE BED CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 18, 1938 3Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Russe/.1 AF/RESTONE ATTO RN EYS July 2l, 194.2.R. A. s--mlssowa BED 'coNsTRUcTIoN 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 18, 1958Russe/,L A. Hess TONE my 2l, 1.942.

R. A. FIRESTONE BED GONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 18, 1938 3 sheets-sheet :s

z/f- Y INVEN'ron Russa/ A. FIRES Tama- Patented July 21, 1942 2,290,615BED CONSTRUCTION Russell A. Firestone, Fairlawn, Ohio, assigner to TheFirestone Tire & Rubber Company, Akron,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 18, 1938, Serial No.241,186

4 Claims.

This invention relates to bed constructions generally, more especiallyto beds whichhave resilient mattress supporting means and which utilizethe bed space in an eicient manner.

- It has been observed that standard bed constructions have a spaceassociated therewith which is normally unoccupied and which can beutilized for storage purposes. However, -this space is of small volumeand heretofore has not been eiliciently utilized.

By employing the present invention the utilizable space in a bedconstruction can be increasedand the comfort and supporting propertiesof the bed improved. This is eie'cted by using a novel rubber mattressand suspension system which is of considerably less depth than thepresent types of comfortable bed springs, such as box springs.

The general objects of this invention are to provide a bed with a loadsupporting system of reduced depth whereby increased storage space isprovided thereunder; to provide astorage cornpartment adapted to beremovably attached to a standard bed; and to use rubber in the loadcarrying means of a bed.

Certain specific objects of the invention are to provide a bed with astorage compartment which can readily be cleaned thereunder, drawersaccessible from both sides of the bed, av removable cover for a side ofthe storage space, a rubber- :La

fabric layer which provides a resilient load support, and a porousrubber mattress that compensates for at least a portion of the sagoccurring in the rubber-fabric layer when it is loaded.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will be manifest fromthe following description.

Reference is n pw directed to the accompanying drawings in which yFigure 1 is a perspective view of oneembodiment of the invention, aportion of the rubber mattress being broken away to disclose the rubberand fabric mattress support;

Figure 2 is a transverse horizontal cross section on line 2--2 of Figure4 l Figure 3 is a plan View of the bed of Figure l, with the mattressremoved; v

Figure 4 is aside elevation of the bed shown in Figure l; v

Figure 5 is a vertical line 5-5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail 'section of a corner of the mattresssupporting device of the invention.

The present invention broadly comprises procross section taken on arebound to each other by a plurality of tensioned rubber strips, the wholebeing secured to a frame. This supporting layer carries a crowned porousrubber mattress upon which a person can be supported in a comfortablemanner. The side rails of the bed carry members which form a side railassembly that is adapted to position a plurality of drawers in theportion of the bed under the sheet-like supporting layer. 1

Attention is directed to Figure 1 of the drawings where there is showna' bed frame, or bedstead, indicated generally by I0, which includes ahead II, a foot I2, and side rails I3. In the embodiment of theinvention shown, the side rails lI3 carry downwardly extending, verticalend pieces I3a, and center members |317. Horizontally extending braces|30 are secured between the vertically extending members, as shown, toproduce apertures Ill in the side rail units. All of the members I3,I3a, I3b, and I3c are made from any suitable material, such as wood` Theside rails carry hooked metal arms I5 at ,theirends, the arms beingsecured to the side rails by screws or other means and being adapted toengage with metal plates IG that are'secured to the head II and foot I2of the bed. Recesses I I are formed in the head and thev foot behind theplates I6 to receive the arms I5 and permit ready engagement, ordisengagement, of the side rail to or from the remainder of the bed.

Figure 2 indicates that joists i9 extend between and form a unitary siderail assembly with the side rails I3 and the members carried thereby.The jois'ts may extend the height of the side rail units, as shown, orbe split kinto several bars at spaced points in vertical planes and theyare secured to the end pieces I3a, and centermembers I3b in anyconvenient manner. In some cases, the pieces I3a and members I3b may beeliminated by securing the upper portion of the f joists to the siderails I3 and having the joistsA extend the width of the bed. The joistsI9 carry tures I4 -and supported by the strips 22.

so constructed and arranged relative to the apertures I4 thatdrawers 23are received in the aper- The drawers can be pushed into the bed, untilstopped by the center member 2|, as shown in Figure 2.

Since one side of the bed I is usually placed against a wall, thedrawers 23 are usually positioned on only one side of the bed I0. Aremovable cover 24 is carried by the side rail unit not having drawersassociated therewith to give the bed a finished appearance. The cover iscarried on the side rail I3 by a plurality of brackets 25,

which are substantially S-shaped in section, and which are adapted toengage with the braces I3C (Figure 5).

Obviously, the cover could be made of any suitable material and itwould. bel omitted when drawers are carried in each side of the bed I0.

In order to provide a load carrying support, a substantiallyrectangular, metal frame 26 is carried on the upper surface of the bedrails I3. Pins 21 are secured at the four corners of metal frame 26 andproject downwardly therefrom in position to abut the inner lateral`faces of the bed rails I3, for preventing lateral movement of saidframe. The metal frame 26 preferably is made from a substantiallyU-shaped channelled member, as shown, for it ordinarily must resistappreciable compressive pressure. A supporting sheet 28, made from aplurality of fabric strips 23a, 29h and rubber strips 3|, is carried bythe metal frame 26. The supporting sheet is formed by securing one edgeof each of the fabric strips 29a to one side of the metal frame 26 andthe remaining fabric strips 29h are wrapped around the ends of the metalframe andfextend tautly the length of the frame in spaced relation toeach other and the fabric strips 29a. The edges of all of the fabricstrips 29a and 29h are secured together by .the rubber strips 3I thatare secured to the fabric strips by vulcanization, or in any othersuitable manner. Of course, the rubber strips are compounded so .thatthey have high y tensile strength and make the supporting sheet 28resistant to deflection on load application, since the fabric strips,usually formed of rubberized, heavy canvas, do not stretch under load.

Figure 3 shows that the rubber strips 3Ia in the mid portion of themetal frame 26 are broader, or wider, than the remaining strips soY thatthey are more resistant to deiiection under load. Figure -3 alsoAindicates that the center fabric strips 29h are closer together thanthey are to the fabric strips 29a whereby the rubber strips joiningadjacent portions of such fabric strips are shorter than the rubberstrips securing the outer fabric strips together. aids in preventingexcessive sag of the center of the supporting sheet in either transverseor longitudinal direction, when the supporting sheet This too,

is loaded. The resistance of the supporting sheet 23 to deflection isincreased by initially stretching the fabric strips 2917 tightly in theframe and by tensioning the rubber strips when securing them between thefabric strips.

' The bed is completed by a mattress 32, preferably made from porousrubber, as shown. This mattress 32 has a plurality of recesses 33 formedin the under surface thereof to increase the flexibility and softness ofthe finished mattress. Figure 5 best indicates that the center portion32a of the mattress 32 is crowned appreciably to compensate fordeiiection of the supporting sheet y when load is applied thereto. Theportion 32a is crowned both longitudinallyand transversely of the bed.The crowned portion 32a, together with the special construction of thesupporting sheet 28, combine to prevent an undesirable amount of sag inthe bed when a person is lying mit distortion thereof under load withoutany` bottoming action being effected. The position of the covering board34 depends upon the load deflection of the supporting sheet 28 andvaries with changes in the characteristics of that'sheet. Obviously thecovering board 34 should be as close to the supporting sheet as possiblewithout bottoming the sheet under normal loads. A comparison of theoverall height o f the supporting means of the bed I0 with similar meansin`beds using box spring supports shows that the construction of theinvention provides more storage space than is furnished by standardconstructions.

' 'I'he end members I3a carry downwardly extending members 36 at theirlowerends to give a finished appearance to the bed. These members 36 aresecured to the end members I3a by hinges 31 so that they may be swungoutwardly lto permit. cleaning of the floor space under the bed I0'.

The novel supporting system of the bed differentiates overall knowntypes of bed supports. Besides providing a resilient, durable loadcarrying support, .this system dispenses with the use of box springsnormally required in bed construction with no decrease, and usuallyincreased..

ily be lifted from the bed I0, with -the mattress 32 preferably firstbeing removed therefrom.

Then the side rail assembly can be lifted as a unit from the head II andfoot I2 of the bed by merely disengaging the metal arms I 5 from theirsockets. In certain cases, it may be advisable to construct the bed I0with ordinary side rails thereon, the bed then having no storage meansassociated therewith. The special interchangeable side rail unit couldthen be provided and substituted for the original side rails. I

From the foregoing description it will be seen thata novel bed has beenprovided and that the objects of the invention have been realized.

While a written description and illustration of one embodiment of theinvention is disclosed herein, it will be understoodA that variousmodifi-4 cations can be made without departing from'the scope of theinvention .as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A resilient mattress support for a bed, said resilient supportcomprising a substantially rectangular iframe, a narrow fabric stripsecured '2,290,615 l along one edgethereof toeachside of said frame andfree-of the ends of'saidiram'e.- two narrow'A fabric strips wrappedaround spaced portions of theends of said frame and extending tautly thelength of said frame, anda plurality, ofrubber strips secured toadjacent edges -of said fabric portion of said rubber strips'adjacentthe center ofthe frame being more resistant tc-deection thanthe remainder thereoLthe middle members of said fabric strips being*relatively close together strips-V and tautly extending therebetween,the

whereby the rubber strips secured therebetween are shorter than the.strips 'securing the'outer strips to the inner strips and the center ofsaid f' sheetis more resistant to. deflection. thanthe edges thereof.

'2-. A resilient mattress supportior a bed, saidf resilient supportcomprising a substantiallyrectangular frame, avnarrowifabric` stripsecured along oneedgethereof to each side'of said frame and free of theends 4of said frame, -two narrow fabric strips wrapped 'aroundspacedportions of the ends of said frame Vand extending tautly vthe length' ofsaid frame, and a plurality of rubber strips secured to adjacent `edgesof 'said-fabric rubber strips adiacent the center of theirame beingshorter and more resistant to Vdeflection than the remainder thereof. v

3. A mattress support comprising a rigid -gen- W'ardly toward' the firstmentioned 1 strips, and

`resilient lmeans connecting" adjacent 'marginal portions of all thestrips to provide a resilient' webbing, said resilient means comprising"f a plurality of substantially parallelv strips oi! -rub`.berlikemateriaL said strips being so arranged' as to present moreresistance' to deflectionsthrough that area of 'the webbing vcentrally-fthe endmemb'ers-than throughthe areas adjacenttheretm 4=. A resilientmattress supportvcomprisinga substantially rectangular' rigidframehavingside f members and end members,A a narrow fabricstrip-secu'red along veach side member, said. strips being free ofthe endmembers, -a plurality-of na'rrowiabricstrips vhaving end portionsengag'ing the end members to extend tautlytherebetween,

anda plurality of resilient elements -secure'd to v adjacent edge 5 ofthe' fabricstrips to' extend '1" tautly therebetween, the elements`joining' 'the' fabric strips throughout a central area'of the vspanning the space vc iened bythe frame mem- 1 bers, said jwebbingincluding plural Afabric-strips engaging the end members toext'end tautly therebetween. in" mutual spaced relation and spaced from'the side members, a pair ci fabric'- strips engaging the sidememberstoextendvin-

